Coles Access in Gibsons used to be covered in blackberry bushes that grew wild and rampant, but a Vancouver-based landscaping company that is expanding onto the Sunshine Coast has taken the initiative to clean it up.
Mike Wood of Houston Landscapes has been working with Eric Amberg of Amberg Project Design to turn the section of seaside walkway (near Jack’s Lane on Marine Drive) into a place for the community.
“The bramble removal was part of it, but we’ve actually built a space for the public to utilize,” Wood said, “to sit and congregate, hang out and enjoy the scenery down there.”
Wood grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Roberts Creek. He returned here recently after living off Coast for the last 15 years.
Houston Landscapes was started in Vancouver, but the company decided to expand their business to the Sunshine Coast when Wood moved back. Amberg helped Wood design the space and create a rendering of the finished project.
“One thing that we do in the city is a lot of community work,” Wood said. “Just to be active in the community – and naturally, to get a little exposure for our business and let people know who we are.”
The company wanted to continue that practice on the Coast so they reached out to the Town of Gibsons, offering to donate their time.
The Town pointed them in the direction of Coles Access.
“We’re trying to create employment opportunities for local people, and grow our business to become part of the business community here,” Wood said.
Houston Landscapes is a landscapes construction company. Wood explained that they will landscape the initial project, but they don’t do regular maintenance.
“So we’re looking to build relationships with builders and commercial developers,” Wood said. “Essentially that’s the network of people that we’re trying to establish ourselves with.”
The project isn’t 100 per cent complete. So far they have installed all of what Wood called “the hardscaping elements.”
“All of the bones of the space, so to speak,” Wood elaborated. “We actually beachcombed some logs locally, from one of the beaches and used them for our foundation.”
With watering restrictions in place they haven’t been able to finish the project in their proposed timeline. They are now waiting for the restrictions to be lifted in the fall.
“The project is kind of halfway there at the moment,” Wood said.
